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DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Anti-Semitism in the EU: Jewish people consider leaving over safety concerns Some 90 percent of European Jews believe anti-Semitism has grown stronger —particularly in France— in recent years, according toa European Union survey published on Monday.

Over one third of the Jewish respondents said theyʼd considered leaving the EU in the past five years due to concerns for their safety, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) found. "Member states must take note and step up their efforts to prevent and combat antiSemitism. Jewish people have a right to live freely, without hate and without fear for their safety," said FRA Director Michael OʼFlaherty. The FRA questioned 16,395 Jewish people for the anti-Semitism survey, which was also carried out in 2012.

The respondents live in 12 EU member states where 96 percent of the EUʼs Jewish population lives, including: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Germany: AfDʼs ʼwhite menʼ advent calendar sparks controversy and ridicule Germanyʼs right-wing populists said they sought to celebrate the contributions of white men, who faced "rampant discrimination" in society. The calendar was promoted with the hashtag ʼsay yes to white menʼ on Twitter. The AfD of the Berlin parliament drew criticism for a new Christmas campaign honoring notable white men every day in the month of December, in the tradition of the advent calendar.

The far-right populists announced their controversial move with a message on Twitter, using the hashtag "yes to white men" (#JaZuWeißenMännern). "At the most beautiful time of the year, every day we introduce you to a person who has significantly influenced our Western civilization. ʼWhite menʼ have become an insult to some in recent years. Not to us."

281/2018 • 12 DECEMBER, 2018

Angela Merkel urges Vladimir Putin to release Ukrainian sailors Stopping conflict in the Sea of Azov wasnʼt the only thing the two leaders discussed

The chancellor told her Russian counterpart that measures needed to be taken to ensure "smooth passage" through the Kerch Strait.

But stopping conflict in the Sea of Azov wasnʼt the only thing the two leaders discussed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Moscow to release 24 Ukrainian sailors during a call with her Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a press briefing.

"The conversation focused on the situation in the Kerch Strait," Seibert said late Monday. Late last month,Russian warships captured three Ukrainian naval vesselsas they crossed through the strategic passageway. Russian authorities detained the Ukrainian soldiers on board, citing military provocations.

Merkel told Putin that measures needed to be taken to ensure "smooth passage" through the strait afterpassage was blocked off, cutting off Ukrainian port cities onthe Sea of Azov, such asMariupol. The German chancellor had previously urged Russia and Ukraine to deescalate the situation, saying there is"no military solution"to the conflict between both countries. News Angela Merkel urges Vladimir Putin to release Ukrainian sailors The chancellor told her Russian counterpart that measures needed to be taken to ensure "smooth passage" through the Kerch Strait. But stopping conflict in the Sea of Azov wasnʼt the only

thing the two leaders discussed.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Moscow to release 24 Ukrainian sailors during a call with her Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a press briefing.

"The conversation focused on the situation in the Kerch Strait," Seibert said late Monday. Late last month,Russian warships captured three Ukrainian naval vesselsas they crossed through the strategic passageway. Russian authorities detained the Ukrainian soldiers on board, citing military provocations.

Merkel told Putin that measures needed to be taken to ensure "smooth passage" through the strait afterpassage was blocked off, cutting off Ukrainian port cities onthe Sea of Azov, such asMariupol. The German chancellor had previously urged Russia and Ukraine to deescalate the situation, saying there is"no military solution"to the conflict between both countries. Merkel also discussed Russian gas transit via Ukraine "after 2019." Kyiv has voiced concern that a GermanRussian pipeline known asNord Stream 2would becomean economic and security risk.

Illegal gold mines destroying Amazon rainforest An increase in illegal gold mining in the Amazon rainforest has reached "epidemic" proportions, a study has revealed. The report, released by the Amazon Socio-Environmental GeoReferenced Information Project (RAISG) on Monday, exposed the damage that illicit mining for gold has had on forest and waterways, as well as on the life of indigenous tribes in the area. Combining satellite imagery and government data, researchers identified at least 2,312 illegal mining sites that spanned across six countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. The group was not able to collect data on mining activity in Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname. "The scope of illegal mining in the Amazon, especially in indigenous territories and protected natural areas, has grown exponentially in recent years, with the rise in the price of gold," said Beto Ricardo, head of the RAISG.

Climate protection: Germany falls farther behind As greenhouse gas emissions increase, the Climate Change Performance Index 2019 shows that only a handful of nations have implemented strategies to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The annual report — published Monday at the COP24 climate summit in Katowice, Poland — tracks climate change performance in 56 countries and the EU. It comes on the heels of news that after CO2 emissions stabilized for three consecutive years, they are set to hithistoric highs in 2018. Germany, so often held up as a beacon in the climate change fight, comes in at a middling 27th position — five places below its spot last year

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281/2018 • 12 December, 2018

German teachers fined for treating wasp sting with heated fork Two teachers at a school in the western German state of Hesse were fined for causing bodily harm with their questionable home remedy for a studentʼs wasp sting.

The incident occurred during a school trip to a youth hostel in the neighboring state of RhinelandPalatinate in May 2017, when a 14-year-old student was stung by a wasp. In response, a 39-year-old male teacher heated the handle of a fork with a lighter and pressed it on the boyʼs hand where heʼd been stung. After a blister formed, another 40-year-old female teacher cut it open and treated the wound with cream. The studentʼs lawyer said that as a result of the sting, the boy had to wear a protective glove for a considerable period of time. The German daily Bild newspaper reported that the boyʼs hand became infected and that he wasnʼt able to attend an internship as a result. A district court in Cochem fined the male teacher €2,700 ($3,160) for causing bodily harm.

The female teacher was also fined €2,500 ($2,900) for both assisting and causing bodily harm to the student.

Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege accept Nobel Peace Prize In theirNobel Peace Prize acceptance speeches on Monday,Denis MukwegeandNadia Murad called on the world to protect victims of wartime sexual violence. They also slammed global indifference to the plight of women and children in conflict. In her speech Murad implored the global community to help free hundreds of women and girls still held by jihadists. She also said that the world must protect her people and other vulnerable communities. Speaking at Osloʼs City Hall and seemingly overcome with emotion, Murad said: "It is my view that all victims deserve a safe haven until justice is done for them." Murad survived the horrors of captivity under the "Islamic State" (IS) group in Iraq and Syria where they targeted her Kurdish-speaking community.Older women and men faced summary execution during the IS assault, which the United Nations has described as a possible genocide. Murad was captured in 2014 and suffered beatings and gang-rape before she was able to escape.

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Theresa May heads for talks with EU leaders after Brexit vote delay British PM Theresa May is headed to Berlin to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel

British PM Theresa May is headed to Berlin to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel in an attempt to salvage her Brexit deal.x Prime Minister Theresa May is headed to mainland Europe for talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss concerns raised by British lawmakers about her faltering Brexit plan. "I will now do everything I possibly can to secure further assurances […] and discuss with them the clear concerns that this House has expressed," May told Parliament on Monday, after she delayed a parliamentary vote on a draft exit deal which had already won the back-

Syria blames Israel for ʼattack on Damascus airportʼ Israel launched missiles at a target near the Syrian capital of Damascus, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Sunday. "Our air defenses responded to an Israeli missile attack on Damascus international airport and shot down a number of hostile missiles," said a military source cited by Syriaʼs SANA news agency. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), an independent war monitor that relies on a network of on-the-ground sources, said the missiles had targeted an arms depot near the airport,likely used by Iranian forces or the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

History of attacks An Israeli Defense

ing of the EUʼs 27 other political leaders. The United Kingdomʼs political crisisover its planned departure from the European Union intensified Monday when it became clear Mayʼs draft deal would have been rejected "by a significant margin." "It is clear that while there is broad support for many of the key aspects of the deal, on one issue, the Northern Ireland backstop, there remains widespread and deep concern," May said in a speech to the House of Commons on Monday.

Forces (IDF) spokeswoman said Israel does not comment on reports by foreign media. However,it would not be the first time Israel has targeted assets on Syrian soil. Earlier this month, an Israeli official said the IDF has hit more than 200 Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria.

World Bank offers financial assistance to disaster-hit Indonesia The World Bank announced Sunday it would provide up to $1 billion (€860 million) in loans to the Indonesian government to help relief and reconstruction efforts in areas hit

Germany ready to ʼhelp Iraq back on its feetʼ German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Iraq on Saturday to discuss her countryʼs intention to develop its military assistance program in the country. Von der Leyen said that followingthe "Islamic State" militant groupʼs military defeat in Iraq, it is time to move forward with other endeavors, includingstabilization and reconstruction. "Now it is important to shape and protect the reconstruction of the country under a new mandate," said von der Leyen.

"Germany is ready to continue helping Iraq get back on its feet. That is why I am here." ʼOther forms of engagementʼ In February, von der Leyen saidthe role of the Bundeswehr — Germanyʼs armed forces — needed to evolveto meet the "needs of Iraq." At the time, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Baghdad wanted a "commitment from Germany" for "other forms of engagement," including training and logistics. Since 2014, Germany has provided Iraq withmore than €1 billion ($1.16 billion) in humanitarian and development aid, making the Middle Eastern country one of the largest recipients of German foreign assistance.

by recent earthquakes and a tsunami.

Kristalina Georgieva, the bankʼs CEO, unveiled the funds in Bali during its annual meeting. "Disasters will continue to hit, and with climate change there will be more," said Georgieva, who earlier visited Palu City, which was hit by a 7.5magnitude quake and a resulting tsunami last month. "The best memorial we can build for the victims of disaster is to build better, so next time when a disaster hits, fewer people are affected, fewer lives are lost, and there is less damage," she added. Indonesia sits on one of the most tectonically active parts of the world, and is prone to earthquakes as well as occasional tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. On Saturday, torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides on the island of Sumatra, killing 27 people, including a dozen school children.

281/2018 • 12 December, 2018

US sanctions North Korean officials over human rights abuses Washington has imposed sanctions on three men accused of involvement in the death of 22-year-old student Otto Warmbier. The sanctions make it illegal for any US entity to conduct financial transactions with them.

The United States has imposed sanctions on three North Korean officials for their role in human rights abuses and the death of American captive Otto Warmbier. The US Treasury Department said Monday that Washington had frozen the US assets of the three officials and banned them from entering financial transactions with US companies. "The United States has consistently condemned the North Korean regime for its flagrant and egregious abuses of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and this administration will continue to take action against human rights abusers

Luxembourg election presents tough challenge to PM Xavier Bettel The future of Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel hangs in the balance as some 256,000 voters head to the polls in the European land-locked Grand Duchy on Sunday.

Any party or alliance needs to obtain 31 seats to form a government. Opinion polls suggest Bettel could lose the vote due to his unpopular economic policies and declining support within his Democratic Party and coalition partners. A high growth rate under the coalition has put pressure on housing and infrastructure. According to polls, a quarter of voters were undecided in who to vote for. Claude Wiseler, a former literature teacher and the prime minister candidate of the Christian Social Peopleʼs Party (CSV), is expected to pick up seats. Bettel became the countryʼs prime minister in 2013 after a spying scandal toppled the CSV government of Jean-Claude Juncker, who is now president of the European Commission.

around the globe," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. One of the officials, Choe Ryong Hae, is a close adviser of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He is believed to be the second highest official in the North Korean military. At a military parade in 2017, he said North Korea would "beat down enemies with the power of nuclear justice." The other officials are Jong Kyong Thaek, the minister of state security, North Koreaʼs primary counterintelligence agency, and Pak Kwang Ho, the director of North Koreaʼs Propaganda and Agitation Department.

French President Emmanuel Macron announces €100 rise in minimum wage after protests

French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a monthly increase in the minimum wage of €100 ($113) in a televised speech to the nation on Monday. He said he would speed up tax cuts and raise wages at a "historic time" for France. "We will respond to the economic and social urgency with strong measures, by cutting taxes more rapidly, by keeping our spending under control, but not with U-turns," Macron said during his

statement on Monday evening. He also encouraged employers to make a special, end-of-year payment. Speaking after the fourth weekend of antigovernment "yellow-vest" protests, Macron said no amount of anger justified attacking security forces or public buildings. Calm and order must reign, he said. However, in a conciliatory tone he said: "I understand I have hurt some of you with my statements."

Europe-wide Rhine River cleanup draws thousands of volunteers Anke Mielke digs through her orange garbage bag, sifting through numerous plastic bags and other scraps of trash before pulling out the strangest thing sheʼs found so far on the banks of the Rhine River — a pungent pair of jeans. Mielke tells DW that she hopes that by cleaning up the riverbank, others will be reminded to take their rubbish with them next time. "I grew up along the Rhine and I want it to remain beautiful so that others can enjoy it," she says.

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281/2018 • 12 December, 2018

Older German diesels face reckoning German government ministers met at Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs offices on Friday to discuss the vexatious diesel question. After years of wrangling, a solution is dearly sought, but what are the realistic options? Is Germanyʼs seemingly never-ending diesel debate edging towards its endgame? On Friday, German government ministers for transport, finance, the economy and the environment met at the offices of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to try and reach an agreement on the thorny subject of how to reduce pollution from diesel cars as quickly as possible.

Read more: New analysis reveals deadly scale of diesel emissions Last weekend, German government figures and car manufacturers were in talks over potential hardware retrofits for older diesels, but no deal was reached. With diesel bans allowed in Germany since rulings earlier this year, the debate has entered a decisive phase.Hamburg began a partial ban in May, while Stuttgart,Frankfurtand Düsseldorf are among the other cities expected to follow. Car manufacturers are vehemently opposed to such bans, as they have added to uncertainty over dieselʼs future and hit sales. The debate in the Chancellery once more centered on a few key questions around whether older diesels should be banned outright, retrofitted with new hardware or gradually phased out through incentivized buyback schemes. On top of that is the fundamental issue of who pays to make things better.

Sri Lanka seeks investment, but China questions linger You donʼt need to be an expert on international trade routes to look at a map and understandthat Sri Lankaʼs location is one of potentially serious economic advantage. The island nation — population 22 million — sits at the southern tip of India, almost as close to the Middle East and the Horn of Africa as it is to South East Asia. The value of this location has not been lost on its northern neighbor China.Under Xi Jinpingʼs so-called ʼBelt and Road Initiative,ʼ the Chinese government has pumped billions into Sri Lanka in the form of both foreign investment and loans in recent years. This reliance on Chinese money is part of a longstanding Sri Lankan problem. With a major trade deficit, as well as crippling levels of debt, the country needs foreign money. China has rushed to fill the gap more enthusiastically than anyone else. The current Sri Lankan government came to power in 2015, when it replaced former President Mahinda Rajapaksaʼs administration.

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Germanyʼs welfare experiment: Sanction-free ʼbasic securityʼ Fear of sanctions is demotivating the unemployed from getting a job, a new study aims to show. Meanwhile, Germanyʼs political left is mulling a welfare reform to refit the system for 21st century work.

A basic principle of social security in Germany is this: The best incentive to get people into work is to cut their payments if they miss an appointment, or fail to finish a training course, or refuse to sign an "integration agreement" in which they pledge to do all they can to find a job. But this simply doesnʼt work, says the Sanktionsfrei ("sanction-free") organization. Not only does the pressure created by the threat of sanctions lead more people to fall out of the system completely, it even demotivates those who arenʼt even being sanctioned. To prove its point, the organization launched a study on Thursday to find

Can the European Union control Chinaʼs connectivity in Europe?

Last week, the EU announced a proposal for a "new and comprehensive strategy to better connect Europe and Asia." As European countries and industry expand infrastructure and network connections with Asia, and China in particular, the EU is seeking to level the playing field and ensure that joint projects develop with Brussels setting the standard. DW spoke with Mathieu Duchâtel, senior policy fellow and deputy director of the Asia and China Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, about the EUʼs strategy on connecting Europe and Asia. Mathieu Duchâtel: This proposal is the EUʼs response mainly to Chinaʼs Belt and Road initiative, with the aim of making European values on connectivity clear. I think itʼs the result of a feeling in the EU that it wasnʼt in the driverʼs seat on the connectivity discussion in Eurasia. This, of course, includes infrastructure because thereʼs no connectivity without infrastructure.

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KnorrBremse set to become German IPO of the year Knorr-Bremse said on Friday that strong investor demand for its 35 million shares to be publicly listed on October 12 could value the stake at up to €4.21 billion ($4.77 billion).

The German braking and technology group now hopes to sell its newly-floated shares at a price of between €72 and €87. Earnings from the 30-percent stake in the company could make the flotation the biggest in Germany this year, overtaking that of Siemens Healthineers — the worldʼs largest maker of medical imaging equipment — which sold for €4.2 billion. The companyʼs chief executive Klaus Deller, said Knorr-Bremse would welcome new investors as it was heading toward further growth. "We have received very positive feedback from investors and other stakeholders...confirming our strong belief that this IPO is the next logical step for us," he said in a statement.

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out what effect sanction-free support has on people. Starting in February 2019 and for the next three years, 250 randomly-chosen recipients of Hartz IV financial assistance — the system of German long-term unemployment benefits or welfare support — will get any sanctions immediately reimbursed by the organization, no questions asked. The scheme is called HartzPlus. The organization will then record the psychological effects of this newfound security in periodical questionnaires that the participants fill out. A control group of another 250 Hartz IV recipients will get no such safety net, but still out the forms.

Australia passes law forcing tech firms to hand over encrypted data

Passage of a law expanding Australiaʼs spying powers may have global implications for encrypted communications. Critics say the law may unleash unintended consequences.

Australiaʼs Parliament on Thursday passed a controversial bill that will force tech firms to give police access to the encrypted communications of suspected terrorists and criminals. The law, which has been opposed by tech giants, has caused heated debate over national security and privacy at a time when governments across the globe are grappling with how to access encrypted information to monitor illegal activities. Under the law, Australian security services can force local and international communications giants such as Google, Facebook or WhatsApp to remove encryption, help conceal government snooping and hand over data linked to suspected illegal activities.

Police must still first obtain a warrant.

The new law passed the Senate after a last-minute deal was struck with the opposition Labor Party, which had demanded more oversight and safeguards in how the law is used. Under the deal, the coalition government agreed to add amendments next year.

281/2018 • 12 December, 2018

Juliette Binoche named president of Berlin Film Festival jury The festivalʼs director stressed her

Cornelia Funke at 60: Why the star childrenʼs author distrusts words She launched to fame with "Dragon Rider" in 1997 and has since become one of Germanyʼs most successful authors. In an interview with DW, star kidsʼ author Cornelia Funke spoke about why words can be challenging.

Cornelia Funke cheerfully answers the phone at 9:30 a.m. California time. She had already been to the ocean, written a bit, made a few calls, and drunk her coffee. Every workday begins with a good cup of coffee, she says. Funke laughs sincerely and frequently, then speaks thoughtfully about her life, her work with words and pictures, and her relationship to fantasy and reality. Her childrenʼs fantasy novels, which she illustrated herself, have sold 20 million copies and been translated into 37 languages.

Visit Budapest’s most charming Basilica Advent Fair

She won the Berlinale Camera, for "personalities and institutions that have made a unique contribution to film," in 1993, and then the festivalʼs best actress prize in 1997 for The Eng‐ lish Patient, a role which also nabbed her an Academy Award. Binoche, 54, had her first film role under the direction of Jean-Luc Godard, with a small role in 1983ʼs Hail Mary. She first became known to Englishlanguage audiences starring opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in Philip Kaufmannʼs 1988 adaption of The Unbearable Lightness of Being.

DeepL: Cologne-based startup outperforms Google Translate Translation giants like Google and Microsoft are faced with a powerful but small competitor. The startup from Cologne, DeepL, was founded by a former Google employee. It provides a translation tool that produces more naturally worded text than any of its big competitors. The service uses so called deep learning technology based on artificial neural networks. But how exactly does it work?

From dictionary to translator Before the company launched the new translation tool in August 2017 it had

been in the "language business" for quite some time. In 2009, they started a a dictionary called Linguee.What was special about it? Apart from various translation options, it offered samples of already translated pieces of text in chosen language pairs. It gathered these text samples from the Internet using special Internet bots that help web indexing called web crawlers. Many text samples came from the documents of multilateral institutions like the European Union (EU).

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Culture

Renovated Museum of Fine Arts to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCTOBER.

The French movie actor has been awarded by the Berlinale twice before, including a best actress prize.

French actress Juliette Binoche will head the jury of this yearʼsBerlin International Film Festival, organizers announced on Tuesday. She has appeared in more than 70 films and won a slew of prizes. "Iʼm very pleased that Juliette is president of the 2019 International Jury," said Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick. "The festival shares a strong connection with her, and Iʼm very happy that sheʼll be returning to the festival in this distinguished position," added Kosslick, alluding to the two awards Binoche has received at the festival in the past.

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The Advent Fair by St Stephen’s Basilica is one of the most atmospheric in Budapest.

Centrepieced by a towering Christmas tree and a free icerink for kids, stalls offer delicious dishes and all things jolly, while special light shows projected onto the façade of the Basilica make every night special. See below for tips on what to eat, drink and buy – and find out what film star Antonio Banderas was up to here last year!

Right in the city centre, this Christmas fair has been improving year upon year, offering an enchanted experience for all ages. The main attraction is a recent one, illuminated visuals projected onto the façade of the historic Basilica.

Thanks to the largest-scale and most comprehensive reconstruction project in the museum’s history, the museum building has been renewed, and, returning to the collection’s first concept, the museum’s permanent exhibitions will also be rearranged. Besides the new permanent exhibitions, the revamped museum will welcome visitors with a chamber exhibition titled Leonardo & the Budapest Horse and Rider. The museum reconstruction, implemented within the framework of the Liget Budapest Project, included the restoration of the Romanesque Hall, which sustained severe damage in World War II and since then had been only partially renovated and used as a storage area, along with the modernisation of the building’s obsolete heating system, the installation of air conditioning in some of the exhibition halls, the renewal of a large part of the roof structure, as well as the addition of new exhibition spaces, visitor areas and modern storage facilities.

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281/2018 • 12 December, 2018

Harry Redknapp: Why people are falling in love with the Iʼm a Celeb star

It may be on the "other" channel but we are loving this yearʼs Iʼm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here. The reason this season is the best yet?

Two words... Harry. Redknapp. The former Tottenham managerʼs name was the most Googled topic in the UK on Sunday, with more than 200,000 searches. For millions of football fans, the "Redknapp dynasty" is nothing new, but for younger viewers of the ITV show, they may not have been as familiar with Harry before he went in the jungle. We wanted to answer a few of the most commonly asked Harry Redknapp-related questions.

Greg Rutherford: Former world long jump champion gets British Rowing invite

British former long jumper Greg Rutherford has been invited to take part in the British Indoor Rowing Championships on Saturday, 8 December. The move comes after Rutherford, who won Olympic gold in 2012, took part in tests which "identify nonrowers who have Olympic podium potential". The 32-year-old retired from athletics in September. "Entries close on Wednesday, so we shall see if Greg accepts the invite," said a British Rowing spokesperson. "During his afternoon with the GB Rowing Team, Greg was put through our World Class Start programme testing, which seeks to identify non-rowers who have Olympic podium potential. "This included a race on the indoor rowing machine against Rio 2016 Olympic champion in the menʼs four, Moe Sbihi."

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London Broncos have long-term ambition to win Super League title Promoted London Broncos must have the ambition to win Super League in the future, says head coach Danny Ward. The Broncos will be back in the top flight in 2019 afterbeating Toronto Wolfpack 4-2 in the Million Pound Gameon Sunday. "We need to make it work, have a five-year plan of where we want to be," Ward told BBC Radio London.

"Next year is going to be tough but we want a long-term vision to make London the best club in the country." He added: "We donʼt just want to compete in Super League, but win it. We are not there just to survive." Ward, who took charge following the departure of Andrew Henderson at the end of last season, described their victory over the Wolfpack in Canada as "one of the proudest moments" of his career. "What a performance, what a day and what an achievement - I am still on a massive high," he said on their return to England. "To lead the club into the Million Pound Game and win promotion is one of my biggest ever achievements."

Paul Gascoigne pleads not guilty to sex assault on Durham train Paul ʼGazzaʼ Gascoigne appeared before magistrates in Peterlee

Football legend Paul Gascoigne has denied sexually assaulting a woman on a train from York to Durham.

Football legend Paul Gascoigne has denied sexually assaulting a woman on a train from York to Durham.

The former England midfielder was arrested at Durham station in August. Appearing at Peterlee Magistratesʼ Court, Mr Gascoigne pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual as-

sault by touching. Mr Gascoigne, 51, who played for Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Rangers, will next appear at Teesside Crown Court on 8 January. The retired midfielder shot to international fame during the 1990 World Cup.

As horror year continues, what now for Mesut Özil?

After the furore surrounding his decision to quit the national team, Mesut Özil sought solace at his club, Arsenal. But right now, he canʼt even get a game. With critics piling on, whatʼs next for the divisive playmaker?

Though it was emphatically not the reason hestepped away from the Germany setup, the boost in freshness and fitness Mesut Özil would get from missing international breaks would surely be a happy sentence to close a sad chapter.

So when Unai Emery benched Özil for the fixture against Bournemouth on

November 25 that followed an international break, eyebrows were raised.

Emery explained his decision by suggesting Özil wasnʼt suited to a "very demanding match with physicality and intensity." It was a familiar charge from an unfamiliar source. The 30-year-old has fair claim to be the most polarizing footballer in the world. Is he the floating, unselfish and incisive menace whose best qualities are those most underappreciated? Or the talented waster prone to hiding at key moments, shirking responsibility and allowing opponents to drift past him.